2018 Top Travel Specialists We Trust

Whether it’s dune boarding in the Sahara or baking alongside locals in Sicily, the right “experience maker” will intuit your desires before you even know what they are—then they’ll make them happen. These travel specialists can do exactly that, no matter what your interests are.

The more unpredictable our natural and political landscapes become, the more we feel the urge to visit places untouched by the news cycle. So, as we continue to support and keep a close watch on those areas hit hardest by a rash of hurricanes, fires, and foreign-policy blunders, we’re craving the kind of life and perspective-changing travel that’s made all the more magical when planned by the pros—no matter how fearless and self-sufficient we sometimes feel. Because surviving in, say, the Bolivian jungle one day and meeting with the hottest artists in Lima the next requires both grit and access—to say nothing of a network of on-the-ground know-how that you quite literally can’t live without in some places. Here are the experts, fixers, and experience makers you’ll want in your foxhole.

Africa and The Middle East

Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa

Cherri BriggsExplore, Inc.Briggs has spent more than two decades planning trips to Africa, and her latest focus is lesser-known but awe-inspiring places like Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Zambia.

Michael LorentzPassage to AfricaLorentz shines at back-of-beyond trips to Ethiopia and mobile safaris in Botswana, where you’ll spot meerkat, hyena, and other wildlife.

Eastern Africa

Linda FriedmanCustom SafarisShe’s planned lots of multigenerational family safaris, and she’s also expert at gorilla tracking in Rwanda.

Wil Smith and Karen ZulaufDeeper AfricaThey take walking safaris seriously, pairing you up with leading researchers, game wardens, antipoaching teams, and guides for itineraries in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and beyond.

Egypt

Rami GirgisAbercrombie & KentGirgis can get you private access to the entire Giza Plateau, including the three major pyramids and the Sphinx.

Ethiopia

Will JonesJourneys by DesignA native of Africa, Jones has been working in safaris since 1994, managing camps, guiding trips, and planning way-out-there expeditions into tribal villages and stretches of untouched wilderness.

Iran and Tunisia

Jerry SorkinIconic Journeys WorldwideHe’s got decades of experience in North Africa and the Middle East, and has fixers who can speak to everything from ancient ruins to contemporary politics.

Israel

Susan WeissbergWyllys Professional TravelShe knows the contemporary art scene in Jaffa and the right guides for a deep dive into Jewish history.

Joe YudinTouring IsraelYudin can connect you with Israel Defense Forces officers, archaeologists, chefs, and other insiders.

Morocco

Michael DiamondCobblestone Private TravelHis travelers meet with women’s rights NGOs in the Ourika Valley, get the best rooms at in-demand riads in Marrakech, and do tasting tours through Fès.

Mike KornHeritage ToursIf you want to try dune boarding in the Sahara or see the blue-walled city of Chefchaouen, go with Korn. He’s also got great guides in Fès and Marrakech.

Oman

Sean NelsonOman ExpeditionsHe knows the best climbing and canyon­eering routes; the most exhilarating dune-bashing and quad-biking spots; and the perfect stretches of coast for surfing, diving, and sailing.

Sean Nelson, an Oman specialist, knows his way around the Hajar Mountains.

Photo by Paola + Murray

Southern Africa

Dan AchberTrufflepigAchber knows Botswana particularly well—he’s organized multiday paddles on the Selinda Spillway and game counts with zebra researchers working in the Makgadikgadi Pans.

Deborah CalmeyerRoar AfricaWith her far-reaching network that includes some of the region’s savviest guides, she can get you into private homes, gardens, and art collections you can’t otherwise see.

Julian HarrisonPremier ToursHe’s arranged trips with wildlife filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert, as well as with lion and rhino researchers.

Teresa SullivanMango African SafarisSullivan knows which routes, camps, and game reserves are best suited to families, and she’s coordinated multiday walks in the Kenyan bush.

Phoebe WeinbergGreatways TravelWeinberg can get you the best rooms (like No. 6 at Singita Lebombo Lodge or No. 1 at Vumbura Plains, plus over-the-top extras like helicopter flights above the Okavango Delta.

Asia

Bhutan

Brent OlsonGeoExOlson knows where to stay (Amankora, Zhiwa Ling Heritage and how to duck crowds, and can arrange meditation retreats with Buddhist monks.

Bhutan, India, and Nepal

Antonia “Toni” NeubauerMyths and MountainsHer trips go way off the beaten track into villages for homestays that give you an unvarnished look at real life in the countryside.

Cambodia

Andy BoothAboutAsiaBooth is particularly handy around Tonlé Sap Lake, where his guests can watch wildlife and navigate floating villages aboard a private wooden boat. He’s also figured out the best times to visit ancient complexes like Angkor Thom to avoid jostling with crowds.

Central Asia

Zulya RajabovaSilk Road Treasure ToursRajabova knows the top guides at the incredible Gur-e-Amir complex in Samarkand (a sort of Silk Road Taj Mahal) and the best hotels across the region.

China

China’s expanding network of bullet trains is such an important change. It opens up so many areas, and I think the Business Class is the most comfortable way to travel the country. —Gerald Hatherly, China specialist

Gerald HatherlyAbercrombie & KentThanks to decades spent on the ground here (and his perfect Mandarin), Hatherly can pull off seemingly impossible access to the Forbidden City and Xi’an’s Terracotta Army site.

Mei ZhangWildChinaShe’s a Chinese-food expert, plotting quests for prosciutto-like ham in Yunnan and fiery mapo tofu in Chengdu. She’s also built a network of experts who add context to trips throughout the country.

The Himalayas

Sanjay SaxenaNomadic ExpeditionsHe’ll handle all that byzantine paperwork to secure trekking permits, arrange flight-seeing over the Himalayas, and set up one-on-ones with scholars, philanthropists, climbers, and craftspeople.

India

Lucy DavisonBanyan Tours & TravelsDavison works across the country, planning treks in mountainous Ladakh, palace tours in Jaipur, and visits to festivals in Tamil Nadu.

Bertie and Victoria DyerIndia BeatThe Jaipur-based couple has organized elephant-tracking trips, visits to polo matches, and gallery tours led by curators at spots like Delhi’s National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum.

India and Pakistan

Jonny BealbyWild FrontiersBealby is a logistics mastermind who has planned expeditions through the Hindu Kush and Kashmir.

Indonesia

Diane EmbreeBali Barong ToursThink Bali is overtouristed? She’ll guide you to spots that don’t even appear on maps and set you up at luxury hotels almost nobody’s heard about.

Japan

The Maldives

Lindsey WallaceLinara TravelHe knows which resorts have the best service and which offer the quickest access to snorkeling in the United Nations–protected Hanifaru Bay. He also knows Mauritius and the Seychelles.

Myanmar

Tyler DillonTrufflepigHe’s constructed pop-up hotels along remote hiking routes and planned street food tours. Dillon can also set up meetings with activists and officials for timely briefings on the country’s political landscape.

Maximilian HorsleyArakan TravelHe takes travelers deep into the countryside for market tours, monastery visits, and encounters with hill tribes and with insiders who can contextualize the country’s ongoing internal conflicts.

Southeast Asia

April Cole and Andrea RossJourneys Within Tour CompanyThis pair is well-connected across the region: In Cambodia, they can make your Angkor Wat excursion pop; in Thailand, they arrange street food tours; in Vietnam, they introduce travelers to veterans of the war for a local perspective on the conflict.

G. W. “Sandy” FergusonAsia DeskHe can make intros to artists in Thailand, conservationists in Siem Reap, archaeologists in Angkor, and monks in Luang Prabang.

Catherine HealdRemote LandsHeald is at her best with multi­country Asia trips, coordinating drivers, guides, and private tours, whether you’re going to remote villages in Myanmar, the Borobudur Buddhist temple on Java, or on rain forest treks through Borneo.

Melissa MatthewsRed SavannahShe’ll take you off the beaten path in Bali, cycling across Southeast Asia, or into rarely visited private museums or to temples that few tourists see, with hotel upgrades and top-notch guides along the way.

Vietnam

Nathan LaneButterfield & RobinsonLane is a pro at pulling together cycling trips through villages in the Red River Delta, Vespa tours in Saigon, and sails off the coast of Hoi An.

Fiji and Papua New Guinea

New Zealand

Donna ThomasNew Zealand TravelShe plans hikes with the best guide in the Papamoa Hills, evenings with Maori elders, and wine tastings at the country’s top vineyards.

Trevor ThomasSouthern CrossingsThomas scours his home country for new lodges, camps, and villas (like the suites at Mahu Whenua), and adventures like boating through fjords.

South Pacific Islands

Kleon HoweThe Art of TravelHowe knows every inch of the islands­: which resorts are worth booking (Vahine Island and the Hotel Kia Ora, which Saturday farmers’ market is worth a detour (Avarua’s), and which windsurfing spots have the best breeze (he likes the Aitutaki lagoon).

Central and South America

Argentina

Maita BarrenecheaMai 10She was among the first to offer fly-fishing trips to Patagonia and to open estancias to guests for horseback riding. She’s still our go-to for both.

Argentina, Chile, and Colombia

Harry HastingsPlan South AmericaHastings has intel on top-notch estancias and can connect you with all sorts of interesting locals, from emerald miners to rock-star chefs.

Argentina, Chile, and Peru

Jordan HarveyKnowmad AdventuresHe’s scoured the whole of Chile, scrambled all over Machu Picchu, and searched the cities and pampas of Argentina to find the top hikes and best hotels.

Jordan Harvey, a South America specialist, plans treks in the Andes passing alpaca- and llama-filled pastures.

Jill SiegelSouth American EscapesIf you want the best seats at the Carnaval parade, a trip up the Amazon in search of pink dolphins, or a yacht charter off the coast of Paraty, Siegel can hook you up.

Chile

Brian PearsonUpscapeHe knows the top boutique hotels (like Casa Bouchon), the Sno-Cat guides who’ll have you skiing chutes, and the cycling routes for riders of all fitness levels.

Colombia

Boris SeckovicAmakunaSeckovic can make it all happen: street-art tours through Medellín’s once-dangerous comunas, dark-roast tasting at a coffee farm, or a visit to lesser-known villages like Mompós.

Costa Rica

Irene EdwardsGreenSpot TravelShe can pull off helicopter flights over volcanoes or a day at a sloth sanctuary.

Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama

Pierre GedeonCosta AdventuresHe’s clutch when it comes to multi-country trips that combine running rapids with relaxing at retreats—Costa Rica, Panama, and Nicaragua are his main destinations.

Ecuador and Peru

Tom DamonSouthwind AdventuresHis focus is active travel with guides like the grandson of one of the Peruvians who took Hiram Bingham to Machu Picchu.

Europe

Central Europe

Gwen KozlowskiExeter InternationalKozlowski can score tours of the Spanish Riding School, open doors to crafts workshops in the Czech Republic, or plan multiday tasting trips to family-owned wineries in the Wachau Valley.

Ellison PoePoe TravelShe’ll arrange for the best tables at under-the-radar restaurants in Vienna and private tours of legendary Habsburg palaces.

Croatia

Wanda S. RadettiVisitCroatia.comTap Radetti for the latest intel on the best hotels (like the Lešić Dimitri Palace), wineries, restaurants, and yacht charters along the Adriatic Coast.

France

Anthony BayAnthony Bay Is EuropeHe has extraordinary historical and regional knowledge and an extensive network of personal contacts who open their homes to his guests.

Pascale BernasseFrench Wine ExplorersShe’s got the connections and clout to get the most exclusive tours of legendary estates, often from family members whose names are on the bottles.

Germany

Marion HarbisonBrownell TravelHarbison will take you to normally overlooked (but supremely stunning) castles and coordinate fascinating tours of centuries-old abbeys and wineries.

Greece

Mina AgnosTravel2Greece by TraveliveHer on-the-ground ops team can handle complex multi-island itineraries with private boat and helicopter transfers to spots like Ios and Koufonisia.

Ronnie LiadisLiadis TravelShe’s secured access to otherwise off-limits ancient sites and wineries that aren’t open to the public, and chartered boats around Santorini.

Leftheris PapageorgiouHellenic AdventuresGo behind the scenes at artists’ studios and archaeological digs with Papageorgiou. He’ll even set up chats with experts on contemporary Greek politics (if geeking out is your thing).

Christos StergiouTrueTripsStergiou can pull off private, after-hours access to museums, organize catamaran trips around the Cyclades, and find quality hotel rooms, even in high season.

Iceland

Chris GordonIcepeditionHe’s the guy to call if you want to kayak among icebergs, go horseback riding on an Arctic Ocean beach, or spend the night under the Aurora Borealis.

Ireland

Geraldine MurtaghElegant IrelandShe has an insane Rolodex—dukes and duchesses, historians, politicians, mountain climbers, artists—all of whom look after her travelers. She also has a can’t-find-it-anywhere-else roster of amazing castles and estates for rent.

Kathleen SheridanMcCabe World TravelSheridan knows the top castle hotels and countryside manors (like Sheen Falls and Ballyfin, and has clued-in guides who lead seaside hikes, fishing trips, and horseback rides.

Italy

In Tuscany’s Val d’orcia, where everyone visits the same Pecorino maker in Pienza, I instead send clients to the virtually unknown Castello di Potentino to see my cheese-making friends Francesca and Lorenzo. —Rudston Steward, Italy specialist

Brian Dore and Maria Gabriella LandersCIU TravelThey’ve arranged a prime viewing spot for the iconic Palio race, the best rooms at small-but-lovely Sicilian inns, and tours of privately owned Palladian villas that aren’t normally open to visitors.

Andrea GrisdaleIC BellagioShe has behind-the-scenes access at local artisans and iconic sites like the Vatican and the Uffizi, where she’ll make sure you never wait in line.

Gary PortuesiAuthentic ItalyHe’s our go-to for tooling through Parma and Modena to sample Parmigiano-Reggiano, balsamic vinegar, and prosciutto; flying from Rome to Capri for lunch (back in time for dinner); or having a private picnic on the Sicilian island of Mozia.

Rudston StewardTrufflepigHe’s sussed out amazing food (and places to stay) in lesser-known corners of Italy, like the Aeolian Islands, Tuscany’s Monte Amiata, and towns like Matera in Basilicata.

The Netherlands

Harmina MulderThe Travel SocietyShe’s got major pull at all the top hotels, and she’ll score tables at the country’s best restaurants, like De Kas and Librije’s Zusje.

Portugal

Gonçalo CorreiaTours for YouHe’s arranged dinner with a former president of Portugal, a private concert with one of the country’s top fado singers, and cocktails at the studio of artist João Figueiredo.

Portugal and Spain

Virginia IruritaMade for Spain & PortugalIrurita has thrilled clients with coastal hikes along the cliffs near Sagres, access to members-only clubs in Porto, and private flamenco shows and wine tastings.

Russia and Eastern Europe

Greg TepperExeter InternationalWhether you want to tour the Kremlin or get behind the curtain at St. Petersburg’s Vaganova Ballet Academy, where both Balanchine and Baryshnikov danced, he’s got you covered.

Scandinavia

Scotland

Camilla DavidsonNoteWorthyShe’s plugged in to Scotland’s sizzling food scene and has contacts at the best distilleries, world-famous golf links, and even private hunting estates.

David TobinDream EscapeTobin’s an ace at getting inside private castles and estates, and he’s well connected with all the top guides in the Highlands.

Spain

Sebastian LapostolTrufflepigHe’s got friends in the right places: mycologists who lead truffle hunts near Barcelona, flamenco musicians in Jerez de la Frontera, and field biologists who know all the great birding spots.

Ally LewingHeritage ToursWith Lewing, you’ll see some of Spain’s most popular sights, including the Mezquita in Córdoba and Seville’s Alcázar, after hours on private tours.

Switzerland

Jack ShawEpic EuropeShaw knows the top ski instructors and heli guides, plans high-altitude hikes with stays at mountain refugios, and has contacts at luxe watchmakers (in case you need a new piece).

Turkey

Karen Fedorko SeferSea Song ToursFedorko Sefer will get you into historical sites before they open to the public, book the very best hotel rooms, and get you aboard some of Turkey’s top charter yachts.

Earl StarkeyProtravel InternationalStarkey can pull off a private visit to the Hagia Sophia, organize dinner at the Ephesus archaeological site, and introduce you to fixers like Riza Yenice, the kind of person you’re happy spending a week with.

The United Kingdom

Nicola ButlerNoteWorthyShe’s one of the most connected people in the country, whether you want to meet CBEs, score courtside Wimbledon seats, or get into otherwise closed museums.

Jonathan EpsteinCelebrated ExperiencesEpstein knows which of The Torridon’s rooms have the best lake views, and how to score upgrades at Gleneagles, and can sneak you into the top hotels in Edinburgh and London, even at peak times.

Jane McCrumIn Any Event ToursMcCrum can book you a stay at castles and palatial country homes, so you can live like an aristocrat, if only for your trip.

North America and the Caribbean

American National Parks

Marty BehrNational Parks RevealedBehr has arranged Monument Valley hikes, flight-seeing over San Francisco Bay, and hikes to untrammeled corners of classics like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite.

American West

Caroline Bach WoodCaroline TravelWhether you want to shoot photos in Utah’s slot canyons, ride horses with legit cowboys, or just shack up in a Pacific-side hotel, she’ll plan it all.

Bermuda

Vicky McGlynnTravelong of SummitShe’s been visiting the island since childhood, and can often get travelers access to private clubs, or even parliament, in addition to the best rooms at hotels like the Loren at Pink Beach.

California Wine Country

Ania GattoWine Country ConciergeShe’s pulled off after-hours tastings at top wineries, opened doors to invitation-only cellars, and has the scoop on what’s reopened after this fall’s fires.

Canada

Marc TélioEntrée DestinationsHe’s got logistics experts across the country to make sure ski vacations, road trips, paddling expeditions, and wildlife watching all go off without a hitch. He also knows Alaska.

Cuba

Alison CoelhoInsightCubaCoelho has long-established contacts at Cuba’s government ministries, and she can hook you up with rooms at the most desirable hotels—a necessity in a country with limited options.

Mexico

Zachary RabinorJourney MexicoHe’ll coordinate tours with celebrated chefs, devise a multiday hike through the Copper Canyon area (with luxe camps along the way), or get you surfing on beaches you’ll have all to yourself.

Stephanie SchneidermanTia Stephanie ToursMany of her itineraries focus on traditional handmade crafts, textile design, and folk art. She can also hook you up with cooking classes and visits to mezcal distilleries.

Pacific Northwest

Sheri DoylePacific Northwest JourneysThe go-to for wildlife expeditions, boat charters, impossible-to-get hotel and restaurant reservations, and road-trip advice in the U.S. as well as British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies.

Cruises

European Barge Cruises

Jill JergelFrontiers International TravelShe can get you cabins on intimate vessels, as well as the top ships that bigger river cruise lines operate throughout Europe.

Ellen SackThe Barge LadySack will pair you with the right charter, and her bespoke excursions are second to none: truffle hunts in Burgundy, visits to private gardens, wine tastings, and biking tours.

Expedition Ships

This season we’re doing the first-ever yacht-based heli-skiing to Antarctica’s inner peaks. We actually chartered two vessels, so two helicopters can travel with the mother ship. —Tim Soper, expedition ships specialist

Sharon KeatingPolar CruisesShe’s booked travelers on ships sailing Russia’s far east; around Spitsbergen, Norway; and to the Falklands, South Georgia, and Antarctica.

Thomas LennartzQuark ExpeditionsHe’s got access to nuclear-powered icebreakers in Russia (for real) and luxury yachts that do private charters to Antarctica, and he’s pulled off hot-air ballooning over icebergs, spectacular wildlife watching, and trips led by world-class photographers.

Ashton PalmerExpeditionTripsA former expedition leader, Palmer specializes in small-ship cruises aboard some of the world’s top vessels to the polar regions, as well as the Galápagos.

Todd SmithAdventureSmith ExplorationsHis trips to Alaska and the Galápagos are aboard small ships and charter yachts like the National Geographic Orion or the Sea Wolf, a historic wooden minesweeper.

Tim SoperEYOS ExpeditionsHe’s taken travelers to climate research stations in Antarctica, through the Northwest Passage, and on cultural immersion trips to places like Papua New Guinea.

Large Ships

Linda AllenCruises by LindaAllen has major clout with lines including Celebrity, Norwegian, Seabourn, and Viking. She knows which staterooms have the best views (and the least noise), and she can often secure free upgrades and other extra perks.

Tom BakerCruiseCenterBaker’s got a lock on the best rooms on big ships, and he’s an expert at planning over-the-top pre- and post-sail tours, like a walk through the Vatican cloisters during a Med cruise.

River Cruises

Richard Bruce TurenChurchill & TurenTuren is a master at crafting in-depth tours of ports like Prague, calling on a network of journalists, expats, and other insiders who offer greater context beyond rote historical facts. He also knows oceangoing lines, like Crystal and Regent Seven Seas.

Yacht Charters

Mary T. CrowleyOcean VoyagesIf it floats, Crowley can figure a way to charter it, whether you need a phinisi in Indonesia, a catamaran in Raiatea, or a sloop in the Lesser Antilles.

Villas

California Wine Country

Liza GravesBeautifulPlacesShe’s based in Sonoma, which means she’s got on-the-ground intel about what’s open and what’s not after the fires this fall. She also has first dibs on the region’s top homes, not to mention impossible reservations and private wine tastings.

The Caribbean

Tim RoneyLaCureRoney leans on 35 years of experience when he recommends homes (and entire private islands) across the region, in places like Barbados, Jamaica, and the many countries that are back up and running after this year’s hurricanes.

France

Erica BermanHaven InBerman is best known for fully serviced Paris rentals that come with stocked fridges, fresh flowers, and a driver on call. Her firm has recently added homes in Versailles and Provence, too.

Gail BoisclairPerfectly ParisShe has nearly 20 years of experience renting gorgeous flats in Montmartre and its surrounding arrondissements.

Nick WestwoodRed SavannahHe’s the one to call for homes along the Côte d’Azur, as well as in France’s unsung corners, like Cap Ferret, the coastal retreat near Bordeaux.

France, Italy, and Spain

Cédric Reversade and Paul-Maxime KoskasUnique Properties & EventsThey’ve recently added new properties in Formentera and Pantelleria, as well as yoga retreats to homes in Mallorca and Umbria; they can also charter yachts.

France, Spain, and the United Kingdom

Adam CoatsRed SavannahCoats personally inspects every one of his villas, including that 300-acre estate on Menorca with its own private cove and those stately Cotswolds manors where the only neighbors are sheep.

Greece

Ileana von HirschFive Star GreeceShe knows Mykonos and Santorini, of course, but von Hirsch is more keen on less-visited Corfu, where some homes have spectacular pools, and the Ionian islands.

Hawaii

Ryne HollidayHawaii HideawaysHolliday has listings across the major islands, including plenty of beachfront homes with killer views and rural retreats, like one situated between two waterfalls.

Chiara GuidiRed SavannahOriginally from Florence, Guidi is particularly strong in Central Italy, with homes in the Maremma as well as offerings in Umbrian villages like Bevagna and Montefalco.

Patrice SalezzePapavero Villa RentalsShe’s got properties across the country and a network of guides, some of whom she’s worked with for 15 years, who can arrange wine tastings, bike trips, or in-depth museum tours.

Mara SolomonHomebase AbroadSolomon has access to some of Italy’s most luxurious estates, many of which are ideal for big groups or destination celebrations, like birthdays or weddings, and a concierge team to arrange Ferrari test drives or opera tickets.

St. Barts

Peg WalshSt. Barth PropertiesWalsh has the latest on what’s available in St. Barts right now—homes ranging from surprisingly reasonable to completely over-the-top—and those that will be restored in the coming months.

St. Martin and Sint Maarten

Sonja van der DriftBlueOceanVillasShe’s got properties on both sides of the island, and she’s able to help you navigate a post–Hurricane Irma trip this winter.

South America

Luisa Ladron de GuevaraOasis CollectionsHer properties in cities including Buenos Aires, Cartagena, Mexico City, and Rio de Janeiro have all the amenities you’d expect and also come with passes to nearby gyms, private clubs, and a local concierge who can help plan tours or snag restaurant reservations.

Spain

Mary VairaEl Sol VillasShe’s got access to the chicest villas and apartments, plus hyperlocal tours, like an up-close look at the production of jamón Ibérico.

The United Kingdom and Ireland

Andrew LoydLoyd & Townsend Rose

A one-time butler, he organizes not just rental estates but also activities like sporting-clay shooting, croquet, garden tours, falconry, Scottish folk dancing, and private tours of distilleries.

Worldwide

Marina GratsosCarpe Diem Luxury TravelFor when you absolutely have to have that 12th-century castle or a private island of your own, the well-connected Gratsos is the person to call.

Special Interest

Airline Assistance

Brett SnyderCranky ConciergeSnyder’s able to suggest the ideal airline for any given route, and his team monitors flights in real time to provide updates on gate changes and delays. They’ll also rebook you in a flash.

Destination Celebrations

Jack S. EzonOvation VacationsEzon has tight relationships with hotels—meaning he can often snag upgraded rooms or other perks—and he’s planned parties on Necker Island and even a 350-person wedding at Versailles.

Destination Weddings

Harlan deBell and Kara BebellThe Travel SiblingsThey’ve organized weddings and receptions at incredible venues, like a private palace in Jaipur, a castle in Northern Ireland, and some of Italy’s most stunning luxury hotels.

Disney

Michelle AllenTravel MagicYou could try to figure out the best ways to beat the crowds, skip lines, book the right restaurants, and tackle all the ancillary Disney logistics. Or you could just tap Allen, who’s got it all on lock.

Family Travel

Kay MerrillAre We There Yet? Family AdventuresMerrill is a pro at keeping families with older children happy, running guided hikes on the Camino de Santiago, surfing expeditions to Peru, or polo-playing adventures in Argentina.

Fly-Fishing

Mollie FitzgeraldFrontiers International TravelShe’s got exclusive access to some of the world’s finest fishing, in places like Bhutan and Russia, and knows all the best spots to cast in New Zealand, Scotland, the U.S., and pretty much everywhere else.

LGBTQ Trips

David RubinDavidTravelA rock star when it comes to destination celebrations or milestone birthdays, he’s got a global network that’s pulled off dream trips for guests in places like Egypt, Ethiopia, India, and the United Arab Emirates.

Miles and Points

Gary LeffBook Your AwardOne of the original points hackers, Leff has a handle on the ins and outs of every program and how to maximize your miles to get into one of Etihad’s in-air “suites,” or how to upgrade to business-class seats for next to nothing.

Over-the-Top Trips

Kate DotyGeoExDoty knows which airstrips can accommodate your private jet, how to score access to top diplomats, and the best ways to see back-of-beyond spots like Chad, the D.R.C., or Indonesia’s out islands.

Kathy ObbishCustom Safaris & ExplorationsShe plans incredible wildlife-focused trips in Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania, as well as adventure-minded itineraries in places like Australia’s Outback and the Canadian Rockies.

Vincent RaisièreAmazing EscapesThe cofounder of this company has built a pop-up pisco bar in the Atacama Desert, camps in Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni and Finish Lapland, and pulled off a bespoke expedition across Cambodia with stays in remote jungle lodges. Not remote enough? They’re going to Greenland and the Kimberley in 2019.

Road Trips

VenkyNomadic RoadThe founder of this outfitter may go by just one name, but he’s got outsize ambitions for making road trips more extreme: Trips with Nomadic Road feel like private road rallies, complete with your own personal Land Rover and the adrenaline rush that comes with driving on foreign soil—or over mountain passes in the Himalays, pristine rainforest in Borneo, or through howling snowstorms in Iceland.

Scuba Diving

Meg AustinThe Travel SocietyShe’s been planning adventure trips for more than 30 years, and she knows every cave, reef, and wreck—plus quality hotels in every port for when you’re done diving for the day.

Wine

Larry MartinFood & Wine TrailsMartin has spent his whole life in Sonoma County, which is still recovering from devastating fires, and he’s got close contacts at every big-time wine producer in California. He can also take you deep into on-the-cusp regions in Croatia, Germany, or Slovenia.